Transit Road construction set for summer

Work began on Transit Road construction Monday as part of a project to rehabilitate a portion of Route 78, according to a press release from the state Department of Transportation.

(See editorial on page four)

Construction involves the removal of the Lehigh Valley railroad bridge, reconstruction of the Erie County Industrial Development Agency bridge, moving the storm sewers from the road surface into the curb, and repaving the road’s surface just north of Terrace Boulevard to just south of French Road, according to Mayor Jesse Nikonowicz.

“The two interior bridges, one is going away and one is getting rehabbed temporarily. That’s being paid for by Erie County; that’s not part of the state project,” added Nikonowicz.

As a result, several traffic restrictions are scheduled.

Daily lane closures will occur on Transit between Walden and Gould avenues, according to the DOT’s release.

The roadway will be reduced to one lane in the southbound direction from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, June 22, and Friday, June 23.

From noon to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 24, Transit between Walden and Gould avenues will be reduced to one lane in the southbound direction, and at approximately 9 p.m., this portion of Transit will be closed to all traffic in both directions.

Motorists will be directed to follow a posted detour using Walden Avenue, Dick Road and Broadway.

The roadway is scheduled to reopen to one lane of traffic in each direction at approximately 5 a.m. Monday, June 26. Residents can expect the same closure times to all traffic from July 8 to 10.

Beginning Monday, June 26, this same section of Transit will be reduced to one lane in each direction and the travel lanes will be shifted.

Less-restrictive lane closures will still be in effect after Labor Day, according to James Troise, DOT’s lead engineer for the project.

“We will still be working past Labor Day if we still have good weather to work in,” added Troise.

“We will be taking single-lane closures during the fall; we won’t be down to one lane in each direction. We’ll be doing one lane, whether that’s southbound or northbound; it will just be a single-lane closure.”

There will be a third closure in spring 2018, but there isn’t a specific weekend mentioned yet.

“We’ll be doing milling and paving work during that third weekend closure,” said Troise.

“It’s going to be the same as we’re doing now, a Saturday night to a Monday morning.”

Work is weather-sensitive and will be delayed in the event of inclement weather.

Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes and allow for additional travel time.

Motorists are also reminded that fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. In accordance with the Work Zone Safety Act of 2005, convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual’s driver’s license.